Magnetic probe apparatus

Abstract

A system and method for locating magnetic material. In one embodiment the system includes a magnetic probe; a power module in electrical communication with the magnetic probe to supply current to the magnetic probe; a sense module in electrical communication with the magnetic probe to receive signals from the magnetic probe; and a processing module in electrical communication with the power module and the sense module. The processing module generates a waveform that controls the supply of current from the power module and receives a signal from the sense module that indicates the presence of magnetic material. The magnetic probe is constructed from a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion of substantially 10−6 / ° C. or less and a Young's modulus of substantially 50 GPa or greater. In one embodiment magnetic nanoparticles collect in the lymph nodes. In one embodiment the particles have a mean hydrodynamic diameter of between 5-200 nm.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 12 / 631,370 filed on Dec. 4, 2009, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.FIELD OF INVENTION[0002]This invention relates to the field of medical diagnostic devices and more specifically to a device to detect tissues of interest during a surgical procedure.BACKGROUND[0003]Approximately 1.25 million new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed each year. In a majority of these cases, there is an urgent need for surgery to remove the tumor and to excise the sentinel lymph nodes and inspect them histologically to determine whether the cancer has spread to other sites in the body. The sentinel lymph nodes are the first nodes to receive lymphatic drainage from the tumor. They are called this because they reliably alert the clinician to any cancer spread. A sentinel lymph node biopsy is a standard of care in breast cancer operations today.[0004]Locating sentinel nodes during surgery is di...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]The present invention radically alters the sentinel lymph node protocol through the use of a detection system based on magnetism rather than radiation. The present system combines the magnetic properties of a magnetic nanoparticle suspension with a detector that is significantly more sensitive than other methods that can be used

Problems solved by technology

Locating sentinel nodes during surgery is difficult.

This method is recognized as being error-prone.

However, the use of radioisotopes presents a significant, and an expensive, logistical burden, because of the need to allocate the time and resources of a nuclear medicine radiologist in addition to the surgeon for what is otherwise a routine operation.

Further many patients are reluctant to receive a radioactive injection.

These factors become a significant barrier to the widespread adoption of the use of radioisotopes to locate the sentinel nodes.

Unfortunately such surface tattooing only shows the surgeon the region of the surface below which the tissue of significance is located.

Finally, metallic fragments dispersed through tissue are a frequent occurrence in combat and industrial accident related injuries.

Finding these fragments are problematic for operating room surgeons attempting to repair tissue damage.

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